Loss-preventing device.



J. R. DOUGLASS.

LOSS PREVENTING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.23,1910.

1,039,662, Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. DOUGLASS, 0F LOGANSPORT, INDIANA.

LOSS-PREVENTING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN It. DOUGLASS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Logansport, in the county of Cass and State ofIndiana, have invented new 1 and useful Improvements in Loss-PreventingDevices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pockets, and has for an object to provide aloss-preventing device therefor, the design being constructedparticularly for use in the rule pocket of overalls and formed toprovide spring gripping members for clamping engagement with the ruleupon insertion thereof in the pocket.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a loss-preventingdevice which is removably supported by or engaged with the pocket whenit is desired to wash the garment the device can be conveniently removedtherefrom.

In the drawing, forming a portion of this specification and in whichlike numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views:Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a pair of overallsshowing my improved device applied to the pocket thereof. Fig. 2 is adetail vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is adetail perspective view of the spring gripping member.

The pocket A may be of any design but preferably it is of a shapeconforming substantially in configuration with the rule B. The front ofthe pocket is formed to provide a buttonhole C in which is removablyfitted the button 1 on the jaw 2 of my improved spring gripping member.The aw 3 of the gripping member is connected with the aw 2 by a curvedstop-forming portion 4, the said stop-forming portion being locatedimmediately above the bottom of the pocket for a purpose to behereinafter described. The spring gripping member may be constructedfrom a single piece of flat sheet metal and bent upon itself to form theherein described companion gripping jaws. Each jaw is provided at itsupper end with a horizontally disposed head 5 whose upper extremity oredge portion is curved outwardly, as shown. The outwardly curved portionof the head forms a relatively wide entrance space for the convenientinsertion Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 23, 1910.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

Serial No. 557,181.

of the rule. The heads are so constructed that each forms a very broadclamping surface for engagement With the rule.

The construction of the device described is such that it can beconveniently applied to or removed from the garment, the latter beingextremely desirable when it is de sired to laundry the garment. Byarranging the gripping member so that the stop forming portion l thereofis disposed immediately above the bottom of the pocket it will be seenthat when the rule is inserted in the pocket it will be engaged by therule to prevent the thrust of the rule into the pocket from mutilating0r injuring the bottom portion of the pocket.

While the article is designed particularly for use in connection withpockets designed for the reception of rules the article can of course beused as an effective loss-preventing device for numerous articles.

The button 1 is located directly adjacent the curved stop-formingportion 4 of the device. Very little movement of the jaws is made atthis point and in view thereof the button when operatively associated inthe buttonhole of the garment will not tend to destroy the buttonholenor will it tend to wear the same to an extent where the article wouldbecome accidentally disassembled from the-pocket on frequent insertionof the rule into the pocket.

I claim A rule holder comprising a pocket having a button hole in itswall located near the lower end thereof, a U-shaped gripping memberhaving T-shaped terminals disposed within the pocket and the band of theU engaging the bottom portion thereof, and a button secured to one legof the U-shaped member and extended through the button hole of thepocket wall to hold said U-shaped member in a central position in thepocket, said U-shaped member being adapted to limit the downwardmovement of a rule inserted in the pocket and the T-shaped terminalsbeing bent outwardly to normally hold the pocket open to receive a rule.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. DOUGLASS.

WVitnesses:

MARION DOUGLASS, WILLIAM O. FIEDLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

